Weight-lifting device



April 15, 1969 LA LANNE 3,438,627

WEIGHT-LIFTING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1966 April 15, 1969 J. LA LANNEWEIGHT-LIFTING DEVICE SheetLofZ Filed July 25 1966 JM L w United StatesPatent Ofice 3,438,627 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 3,438,627 WEIGHT-LIFTINGDEVICE Jack La Lanne, Hollywood, Calif assignor to Fitness King, Inc.,Hollywood, Calif. Filed July 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,617 Int. Cl. A63b21/06 US. Cl. 272-81 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A weightlifting device having adjustable weights connected to one end of a cableand a handgrip connected to the other end of the cable. The cable istrained over various pulleys. The pulley nearest the handgrip isvertically and angularly adjustable so that a pulling force on thehandgrip can be applied from any desired angular direction.

This invention relates in general to a device for human physicalconditioning. More particularly, the present invention is directed to acompact multi-purpose variable positioning tension device especiallysuitable for selectively conditioning the muscles of the human anatomy.

As a result of the present emphasis on physical fitness, devicessuitable for assisting in physical conditioning are becoming frequenthousehold implements. Devices such as this are exemplified by what iscommonly referred to as a lat machine, which is employed to strengthenthe latissimus dorsi muscles. This type of device is operated byapplying tension in a generally downward direction to a handle at oneend of a cable passing over a pulley secured overhead. By varying theweights attached to the other end of the cable, different amounts oftension must be applied to raise the various weights, thereby exercisingthe users muscles.

However, weight-lifting devices such as this are limited to theunidirectional application of force and have the obvious disadvantage ofonly being suitable for assisting in the exercise of one set or group ofhuman muscles. Consequently, it has heretofore been necessary to employa plurality of separate devices each capable of assisting in thedevelopment of a particular group of human muscles.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a singleweight-lifting unit for exercising a large variety of muscles throughoutthe human anatomy.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a unique means forvertically lifting selected weights wherein by proper positioning ofsheave means, the application of force may be accomplished while theuser is in any of numerous physical exercising positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for quickly andeasily modifying the amount of weight attached to the weight liftingdevice in order to adjust the device to the individual needs of theuser.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a weight-liftingdevice wherein the directional application of pulling force by the usercan be modified to cause various muscles and parts of the users body tobe exercised.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact device which iseasy to erect and which can be operated by the user in a minimum offloor space.

These objects of the invention will be better understood and others willbecome apparent when reference is made to the following disclosure,especially in view of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the prefer-redembodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of thestructure shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line 3--3 and illustratingcertain novel components in further detail;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the weight means taken along theline 4-4 of FIG.2

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the operation of thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 1 employed with the application of tensionin a downward-outward direction;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the operation of thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 1 employed with the application of tensionin an upward direction; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a device which isadapted to assist in the physical conditioning of selected muscles ofthe human anatomy. This is accomplished by the user seeking exercisethrough the controlled application of manual force to vertically raisecertain predetermined weights. The unique aspect of this device, moreparticularly disclosed hereinafter, is that the manual force need not beapplied in a direction which corresponds to the vertical displacement ofthe weights.

In accordance with the invention, the device is designed so that anindividual using the weight-lifting device can, after making certainsimple and rapid adjustments of the device, apply tension as desiredeither downwardly, upwardly, or, with respect to the generally uprightplane of the device, outwardly at an angle between the downward andupward direction, by grasping the handle at one end of the cable andcontracting the appropriate muscles. In this manner, by simplemanipulations of the weightlifting apparatus of this invention, theresulting vertical movement of selected weights which is produced by theapplication of tension to the end of the cable provides the desiredmuscle toning and conditioning. Thus, the conditioning of many unrelatedmuscles throughout the human anatomy is possible with the device of thisinvention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar characters of referencerepresent corresponding parts in each of the several views, there isshown a generally multi-purpose Weight-lifting device constructed, forexample, of stainless steel or a similar suitable high strengthmaterial. The device is generally com-posed of frame assembly Aincluding a plurality of upright supporting members, variable weightassembly B and an adjustable positioning assembly C.

The frame assembly A includes a base support 2, preferably secured tothe floor (not shown) and having at the rear thereof (see FIGS. 5 and 6)spaced track members 3 and 5. Positioned near the front of base support2 is guide rail 7 which, along with track members 3 and 5, is preferablyof rectangular tubular construction to be described in greater detailinfra.

Variable weight assembly B includes: -a plurality of uniformly-shapedweights 9, preferably of substantially rectangular cross section andhaving a pair of slots 11 and 11' formed in opposite surfaces thereofand corresponding in configuration to the overlapping portions of trackmembers 3 and 5. Thus, weights 9 will be guided during vertical movementby those portions of track member 3 and aligned with slots 11 and 11.

The weights 9 are each formed with corresponding vertical openings 13passing completely through the vertically aligned units. A substantiallyhorizontal bore 15 is formed through a side of each weight 9 andintersects opening 13 so that key 17, when fully inserted, will passthrough and beyond vertical opening 13.

Cable attachment core member 18, having a series of aligned parallelapertures 19 disposed normally to the longitudinal axis of member 18, isattached to first end 22 of cable 23 in a conventional manner (notshown). As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, when core member 18 ispositioned within vertical openings 13 and key 17 inserted into one sideof bore 15 in weight 9', through aperture 19 in a core member 21 andthrough the other side of bore 15 in weight 9, core member 18 will besecured to the particular weight. Thereafter, when sufiicient tension isapplied to second end 24 of cable 23 in opposition to the static load ofweight 9 and additional weights 9 positioned above weight 9', the forcecauses the combined weights to be raised.

It is preferred that each bore 15 extend substantially completelythrough the respective weight 9 or at least for a sufficient distancebeyond the vetrical opening 13 so that when key 17 is inserted therein,it will contact and support weights 9 from both sides of core member 18.

Core member 18 need only have one horizontal aperture 19 provided thatthe aperture is located near the lower-most end of member 18. However,for purposes of convenience and expedience when attaching one or moreweights to core member 18, a plurality of apertures 19 are illustrated,each being aligned to correspond with the respective horizontal recess15 in each weight 9.

Cable 23 is passed upwardly between track members 3 and 5 of frameassembly A and over sheaves 25 and 27 positioned respectievly near theback and front of upper support plate 29. It is particularlyadvantageous to dispose sheave 25 so that cable 23 is substantiallyparallel to both track members 3 and 5 to insure a minimum of frictionalresistance to vertical movement when weights 9 are caused to be raisedalong members 3 and 5. It will also be apparent that only one sheaveneed be employed. Furthermore, sheaves 23 and/or 25 could be mountedoverhead in, for example, the ceiling. However, in this particularembodiment, a frame supporting a pair of sheaves is illustrated as beingpreferred.

Cable 23 is caused to pass over sheave 27 and continue in a downwarddirection, substantially parallel with guide rail 7. Cable 23 is thencaused to pass over sheave 31 of adjustable positioning assembly C. Thecable 23 is terminated at its second end 24 in attachment with handle 33suitable for manual gripping.

Guide rail 7 contains a series of vertically spaced recesses 35 arrangedto cooperate with adjustable positioning assembly C in a manner to bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3. Guiderail 7, as illustrated, is rectangular and hollow with recesses 35extending completely therethrough.

Referring in particular to FIG. 3, adjustable positioning assembly Ccomprises a base member 37 of tubular configuration and designed forslidably engaging a portion of rectangular guide rail 7. Locking device39, integrally combined with base member 37, comprises an arm 40pivotally mounted at about its center by pin 41. Spring 43 biases arm 41so that when lug 45 is inserted through opening 47 in the base member 37and into a vertically spaced recess 35 in guide rail 7, base member 37is locked in the desired position on guide rail 7. By applying pressureto arm 40 in opposition to spring 43 it will be seen that lug 45 can beraised from its position within recess 35. By retaining this pressure onarm 40, assembly C can be moved vertically either upwardly or downwardlyto another desired position by the individual user operating the device.Then, by aligning opening 47 with another recess 37 and releasing thepressure being applied to arm 40, assembly C is secured to a secondposition on guide rail 7. This is particularly illustrated by the twopositions of assembly C shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Through this variation in the position of adjustable positioningassembly C along guide rail 7, the direction from which force must beapplied to lift weights 9 is modified. Thus, through the application ofsufficient tension, whatever weights 9, secured to core member 18 withkey 17, are caused to be vertically displaced and thereby produceselective conditioning of whichever muscles of the human anatomy arebeing employed to produce the tension.

In a further preferred embodiment, sheave 31 is pivotally attached tobase member 37 through vertically disposed pivotal means 48. Thus, aswill be seen most clearly in FIG. 7, the force applied to the handle 33need not lie in a single plane normal to the general configuration ofthe unit but may have a horizontal component which varies through anangle up to about A bench and/or various other weight-lifting apparatus(not shown) can also be utilized with the device described herein toassist the user in assuming other positions during the operation of thedevice. Furthermore, it will be apparent to one skilled in this art thatthe instant device may be secured to a floor, walls and/or ceiling asdesired to assist in maintaining the device in a rigid upright position.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described in somedetail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is understood that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a compact weight-lifting device for exercising the human body,including a frame formed of a plurality of vertically-disposed members,cable means, first cable guide means fixedly mounted at an elevatedposition on said frame for supporting said cable means, weight meansmounted for slidable vertical displacement along the upright length ofat least one of said vertically-disposed members of said frame, meansfor attaching said weight means to a first end of said cable means belowsaid first cable guide means, means at the second end of said cablemeans for manually gripping said cable means, second cable guide meanson said frame for supporting said cable means between said grippingmeans and said first guide means, the improvement comprising means foradjustably locking said second guide means at selected positions belowsaid first guide means along another of said vertically-disposedmembers, said another verticallydisposed member havingvertically-aligned apertures spaced along substantially all of itsupright length, said adjustable locating means being characterized by abase member slidably enclosing a portion of said anothervertically-disposed member, an arm pivotally mounted on said anothermember, a spring-biased means at one end of said arm and a lug at theother end of said arm, said lug adapted to cooperate with one of saidverticallyspaced apertures to releasably attach said adjustable locatingmeans to said other member, wherein the angular direction from which apulling force can be applied to said second end of said cable means canbe modified to best accomplish the exercise desired.

2. A weight-lifting device in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidweight means are mounted for slidable, vertical displacement along theupright length of a pair of vertically-disposed members of said frame.

3. A weight-lifting device in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidweight means comprise a plurality of vertically-stacked weight means,each having a vertically.

disposed aperture adapted for receiving said weightattaching means.

4. A weight-lifting device in accordance with claim 3 further includinga key means adapted to be simultaneously positioned within both asubstantially horizontallydisposed passage in the lowermost of selectedof said weight means and a corresponding axially aligned substantiallyhorizontally-disposed opening in said weightattaching means, therebyrigidly aflixing said weight means to said weight-attaching means sothat when said weight-attaching means is vertically displaced, theselected of said weight means will be similarly displaced.

RICHARD WILLIAM 6 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1912 Reach272-63 4/1954 Blickman 272-81 XR 3/1961 Morris 272-81 12/1963 Zinkin2728l XR C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

